The Shifter's Choice (19 page)

Chapter 16

“B
rianna?” Johnny heard Sonia call for her friend.

The female vampire reappeared before her husband who was still a blood-covered gray werewolf and threw herself sobbing into his arms.

Johnny gathered Sonia up in an embrace. She held tight, clutching the fur at his chest, the bloody belt dangling from her trembling fingers. He wanted to tell her how brave she had been, but that could wait. There were still two vampires loose and if they didn’t kill them, they’d be back.

He stroked her head and relished the feel of her tucked close to him. He’d done it: he’d gotten to her in time and she was alive. That was all he wanted in the world.

Johnny lifted his head to see Mac and Brianna locked in a similar embrace. The two marines caught each other’s gazes and Johnny motioned in the direction the retreating vampire had taken with a slight gesture of his head and then lifted his brows. Mac shook his head, glanced at his wife and then back toward the base. Johnny understood. He wanted to take them to safety. He drew back and Sonia met his gaze. He started to sign.

Sonia watched him, speaking as he gestured. “He says, ‘We need to go after them now or they’ll come back with more.’”

Mac could not sign but he shook his head. He was taking Brianna to safety. Johnny started signing again.

Sonia shook her head, not liking his idea but she translated word for word. “He says, ‘They can’t fly. Get the women to the helicopter and then we can track the bloodsuckers.’”

Mac nodded and started off in the direction of open ground. The journey seemed to take forever with Mac and Johnny scenting the air and listening for signs of attack. He knew he wouldn’t see them. They moved too fast. Brianna could, however, and she kept her head swiveling as if she were center court at Wimbledon. Once on the rocky ground above the cover of the jungle it didn’t take long for one of the pilots to spot them. Johnny loaded Sonia onto the helo and Brianna kissed Mac’s furry cheek.

Once they were away, Mac and Johnny communicated wordlessly. They found the trail of the vampires and pursued. Both were determined to finish this and them. Surprisingly, the two vampires did not separate, which would have been a better tactical move. Perhaps the vamps didn’t feel pursuit was likely because they had the advantage of speed. True, they were faster than werewolves for short stretches but they lacked the endurance of the wolf.

Mac and Johnny followed their scent trail over ground and through a short mostly natural volcanic tunnel that undermined the fence system and broke ground beyond the reach of cameras and sensors. The trail lead overland from there and continued all the way to the docks, ending at a sixty-eight-foot yacht.

Mac and Johnny surveyed the vessel. Close quarters gave them a large advantage because their quarry could not outrun them here. But the vamps had speed and knew the layout of the vessel. Both Mac and Johnny recognized that the vampires might have set an ambush. One quick attack, one bite and the vampires won. But if Johnny and Mac could get a hold of them, they would finish them.

It was hard for a nine-foot werewolf to go unnoticed and as they had feared, the vampires had human sentries who sounded the alarm with a cry and gunfire before Mac got on deck and threw the shooter overboard. Johnny took out the other two humans, heaving one into the water after his comrade. He could sense the vampires stirring below decks and Johnny and Mac separated, blocking the two exits.

The first ran right into Johnny’s arms. He tried for Johnny’s neck as Johnny opened his and left him to bleed out on the steps. He met Mac before the main cabin. One vampire left and he was behind that door.

“I know you’re out there,” said a male voice. “I also know my associate is dead. I have a deal to propose.”

Mac made a snorting sound, dismissing any deal. Johnny kicked down the door.

The vampire stood with his back to the window, his white eyes seeming sightless and his mottled skin a mask of scarlet and purple blotches. God, he’d seen snapping turtles who were better looking.

“Others of my kind know our position. If you kill me, more will come.”

Mac pulled up extending his hand to Johnny.

The vampire spoke very fast now. “I have to report in. If I don’t, they’ll know. But I could lead them away from here. Keep her safe while you escape.” He let his words die.

Mac looked to Johnny who drew a finger across his throat. He didn’t trust this vampire. Better to kill him than leave him knowing their position.

Mac stepped back behind Johnny and transformed. Johnny kept his eyes on the vampire, waiting for an opportunity to kill him.

“Why should I trust you?” asked Mac.

“Because you are a marine. We work much the same as you. What would happen if a squad did not check in?”

Johnny and Mac exchanged looks.

“What are you offering for your miserable life?” asked Mac.

“I will depart for our next location. I won’t report any trouble until I am in, let’s say Japan. That gives you time to move to one of the locations we have searched, Europe, Africa, North America. We haven’t finished the Middle East or South America. They are all looking for her there, too.”

Johnny knew why the vampires would go to such trouble for one of their own. Mac had told him how rare Brianna was.

“This female we hunt is special, you know,” said the vamp. “First generation. Her mother was an actual Leanan Sidhe, a true fairy muse. So this halfling can bear children from vampire or humans. But I don’t know if she can bear your young. To my knowledge there has never been such a liaison between natural enemies.”

“Maybe if you didn’t keep your women captive, they’d be more likely to stick around.”

The vampire laughed. “Look at me, Captain. What woman would willingly choose this?” He motioned to his deformed face. “The rest of me is just as pretty. My kind does what it must to survive.”

“What’s your name?” asked Mac.

“Burne Farrell. We met briefly in California.”

When he and Mac had killed all but two of his men, Johnny thought.

The vampire glanced at Johnny. “Your friend was in werewolf form then, too. Brianna said that this one can’t change back. Is it true?”

Johnny growled. Why would Brianna tell them this?

“Why should you care?” asked Mac.

“Just curiosity. We’ve never seen that before. Did you know that you cannot sire werewolves? Unlike Vampires, werewolves are made, not born.”

Johnny saw Mac’s shoulders sag with relief before he stiffened again. His captain had never mentioned children to him. Now he knew why. Mac didn’t want to pass his wolf trait to his babies. Johnny realized it was a problem he had not even anticipated, Sonia having his children, the children being werewolves. He narrowed his eyes on Farrell, feeling a renewed sense of hate. The vamp might have killed her.

“Why should I believe you?” asked Mac.

“I have no interest in helping you create more werewolves. Why would I lie?” He flicked his gaze back to Mac. “So, do we have a deal?”

“You might just as easily call in more men.”

“I might. Or I might value my life more than you do.”

“All right.” Mac extended his hand.

Burne drew his closer to his chest and stared at the offered hand then glanced at Mac. He was wise to be cautious. Mac could kill him just as easily while in human form. Finally Burne accepted. Mac clasped his hand and pulled him in so that their noses nearly touched.

“She’s my wife, Burne. If you visit us again nothing will stop me from killing you.”

Burne cowered and Mac released him.

“Understood.”

“You’ve got ten minutes to be off this island,” said Mac. “We’ll be tracking you. If you turn back, I’ll have your ship blown out of the water.”

“As you wish. Until we meet again, Captain,” said Farrell.

“We better not.”

“Oh, I don’t know. We often work with your government agencies. Our paths might cross after they let you off your leash.”

“Ten minutes,” said Mac and left the vampire and his dead comrade on their floating morgue.

* * *

Sonia sat next to Brianna as their helo circled far above the island. The view would have been incredible if she was not sick with worry over Johnny and the captain. Finally the pilot received the call that the marines were both safely back at base. She was so relieved that Johnny had not gone through with the treatment. That, even more than their rescue from the vampires, filled her with hope and joy that lifted her like a bubble in sparkling wine.

When they touched down, Major Scofield waited and hustled them into a secure facility. The major seemed more harried than usual to Sonia, though still thoroughly in command.

“Lam and MacConnelly are waiting inside.”

The marines guarding each entrance snapped to attention at their passing.

Scofield continued speaking as he returned their salutes without breaking stride. “You gave us a scare, Brianna. I thought you could outrun them. That was the only reason I gave you permission to live off base.”

Brianna glanced away.

“It was my fault, sir,” Sonia said. “She came back for me and they caught her. She saved my life.”

The major stopped and turned to look from one to the other. “That was very brave, Brianna. But if it ever happens again, you run. Touma is a marine. She knows how to fight.”

“I hate to contradict, Major, but no human can best a vampire unless the vampire is lying on a bed of iron and even then I’d advise extreme caution.” She looked at Sonia and her eyes twinkled. “Though Corporal Touma did manage to use her belt buckle to burn the face of the one holding me. Kept him from making off with me and gave Mac and Johnny an important edge.”

The major stared at Sonia and smiled. “I’m not surprised. She’s a Devil Dog, after all.”

Sonia felt a painful bubble in her chest. It took a moment to recognize the unfamiliar emotion as pride. She smiled at the major and he returned it with one of his own. Then he motioned for them to precede him.

“Let’s get you two secured. Lam and Mac are waiting. Lam, however, is in some very deep shit.” The major followed them into a bunker of a room, located two floors down and surrounded by volcanic rock. “Oh, apologies for the language.”

Why was Lam in trouble, Sonia wondered. Before she could ask, the major left them. Brianna drew a chair from the conference table and dragged it to the far corner of the room. Sonia sat at the opposite side, restlessly jiggling her leg as they waited.

A few minutes later Mac entered the room, tall and handsome in a uniform that showed fold marks on the trousers. Brianna rushed to meet him, kissing her husband with an enthusiasm and vigor that made Sonia’s cheeks go hot. Johnny was not right behind him and Sonia grew worried. The major stepped into the room and cleared his throat. Mac pulled away from his wife, seeming to only just notice them.

“Where’s Johnny?” Sonia asked.

“I ordered him to the medical unit,” said the major, “So they can check him out. Damn stupid thing, he did. Brave, though. Very brave.”

Sonia’s skin tingled in dread as she wondered what Johnny had done. She was happy Brianna intervened because she found her voice had suddenly abandoned her.

“What did he do?”

Mac stared from Sonia to his wife and then back again. He left his wife and came to stand beside Sonia.

“Sit down, Touma.”

She sank to a chair, her heart now racing in her chest. She waited tense and still, one hand cupped around the other which was bunched in a tight fist.

“He took the treatment,” said her superior without preamble.

“But it didn’t work?”

Mac shook his head. “It worked. Johnny was human again. Then we got your call and we searched and found you both gone. I knew from the scent what had happened and I took off after you both. Johnny saw your blood, Sonia. I ordered him to the base to get help, which he did. But then he disobeyed orders. He...” The captain cupped his hands over his eyes.

Brianna came to stand beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were wide and glimmering with the tears that already filled her lower lids to near flood stage.

Sonia’s back went rigid as her jaw clenched. “No. He didn’t take the treatment. He’s still a wolf.”

Her captain dragged his hand down his face and cast the major a beseeching look and Scofield took over the tale.

“Johnny survived the transition to human and when he discovered your abduction, he came back here and, long story short, he injected Mac’s blood into his vein without permission. He did it to help Mac and to save the both of you.”

“I was losing when he showed up. There were too many,” said Mac.

Sonia, bewildered glanced from one man to the next. “What does this mean?”

The major lowered his head. Sonia thought he looked as if he stood beside an open grave.

“Zharov warned him that he’d never survive the treatment again. None of the test subjects have. He barely made it the first time. He didn’t, actually. He died and Zharov managed to revive him. But he was dead for several minutes. Despite that, he injected himself with werewolf blood. He’s a werewolf, Touma, and he’s not changing back ever again.”

Sonia was on her feet. “I need to see him.”

* * *

Johnny heard them coming. He heard everything again, private conversations from the nurses’ station twenty yards away. The ding of the elevator past the double doors and the familiar footfall of Private Sonia Touma.

She didn’t stop at the door but rushed at him and threw herself across his chest, weeping. He supposed she knew the truth now. She was alive and she was leaving. It was hard, but he pushed her gently away and looked to Mac who stared back with that screwed-up face that he’d seen only once before, after they lost all three fire teams in the Sandbox.

He signed to Sonia to stop crying, but she didn’t. Even though she couldn’t seem to speak, she managed to sign.

They told me. Oh, Johnny, why?

To save you,
he thought. But he signed back that Mac needed him.

Sonia signed,
That’s not true. You did it to save me
.